How to read a poker face

Walter Scott

Q: How do you read a poker face? —Jill N., Seattle

A: “Is somebody tapping their leg or swallowing hard?” says Ellen Leikind, founder of POKERprimaDIVAS, which teaches women to play poker to enhance their confidence. “It could mean they’re afraid of losing or they’re excited—you have to differentiate between the two. If somebody’s an incessant talker and then stops, that could signal they have to make a decision.” The best bluffers “stare at one spot on the wall, which is easier to do with sunglasses on. The best way to get rid of a ‘tell’ is to count to 10 before you do anything.”